“In a little less than an hour.” I raised one brow. “Do you want to help me escape?” I joked.
“There’s no time for that.” Torren pulled me into an alcove to give us some privacy away from the other warriors. “Listen closely. The Varruk does have one weakness. Their hide is incredibly thick, but directly under their chin is a spot that’s thin enough for a sword to penetrate.” Torren grabbed my arm and pulled me closer as a couple of men walked near the alcove, bringing his mouth to my ear. “You’ll have to work to get him to expose it, but I have faith you’ll be successful.” I shivered at the feeling of his warm breath on my ear. He startled me when he grabbed my chin to stare directly into my eyes. “You will survive. I won’t accept any other outcome.” He pressed his lips to mine, kissing me so hard that it was almost painful.
I was so stunned by his actions that it took me a moment to recover from the shock, and by then he had already disappeared. “What the actual fuck?” I whispered, touching a finger to my lips that were still tingling.
I didn’t know what to think, but right now, I needed to get my head in the game. I walked out of the alcove and started my warm-up. I remembered Grumpy telling me that sometimes, when things are out of your control, all you can do is handle each thing as it comes. This was definitely one of those times.
Hopefully, a solution will present itself; if not, I’ll do what I’ve always done and find a way to survive.
Long before I was ready, I heard Seamus calling me to the front to prepare for my entrance. “Come, Reverie, it’s your time to die.” He laughed at what he thought was witty banter. The only one who laughed with him was, of course, Marvin the toady.
With all emotion gone from my face, I stepped toward the doorway, waiting to hear my name. I had participated in many of these battles, yet the butterflies fluttering in my stomach made it hard to believe.
I heard the announcer say in a dramatic voice, “Now we have a special treat for you. Our current undefeated warrior, Reverie Hawthorne, will fight the dreadedVarruk!” The crowd roared. He spread his arms wide. “Wait, wait, there’s more, my lovies.”
What the fuck? How could there be more? Seamus glanced over at me before heading to the stands with an evil smirk on his face. “That can’t be good,” I mumbled under my breath.
The announcer continued, “A surprise guest will join the Varruk…Cryptfiends!!!!” The roar of the crowd was so loud at this point that it drowned out the rest of what the announcer was saying. Then I heard, “Come out, Reverie of the Hawthorne Faction, show us what you’re really made of!”
The air was alive—pulsing, searing—like the entire coliseum breathed as one massive beast waiting for blood.
Myblood.
Sand hissed beneath my boots as the sun burned mercilessly overhead. I stared up at the cloud-filled sky, and I wondered if it would be the last thing I ever saw.
Then the gate groaned.
The Varruk stepped through the iron maw.
Caged, he’d looked monstrous—but out here, under the sun, he was something else entirely. His skin caught the light like weathered bronze, scars mapped stories I didn’t want to know. His eyes found me immediately.
No rage.
No bloodlust.
Just… awareness.
Recognition.
He dragged the weapon they’d allotted him on the ground, heavy steel scraping across the sand. When the gate clanged shut, he didn’t lift it. Didn’t move.
I braced myself.
Waiting for the charge.
For the roar.
But the sound that ripped through the coliseum wasn’t his.
The earth split open—literally split—and three Cryptfiends clawed their way out, all teeth and sinew, dripping rot, followed closely by dozens more. The crowd went feral, chanting for a kill.
Unfortunately, I didn’t think it was in my support. I felt a moment of desperation and then…acceptance. No way I could win against the Varruk and dozens of Cryptfiends.
I locked eyes with the Varruk, and to my surprise, he made that same strange gesture to me as he had in the cell and in my dream the previous night. Then turned his back on me and roared—not at me,forme. A sound that vibrated in my bones, older than memory. Before I could react, he swung his blade and split a Cryptfiend in half. Black ichor hit my cheek, hot and reeking of death.
The second creature lunged straight for me. I met it halfway, steel flashing in an arc. My right blade buried deep in its jaw; my left tore across its throat. Black blood hit my chest like rain.
The Varruk was beside me before the body hit the ground. We fought in sync—his brute strength breaking through armor, my blades finding every gap and soft spot—a rhythm built between us—violent, perfect. I didn’t think; I just moved, reacting to him as if we’d fought together for years.
